Coast remembers Daniel Morcombe on 11th annual walk

UPDATE: THE entire nation still mourns with the Morcombes, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said in a statement to the 11th Walk for Daniel at Sunshine Coast Christian College this morning.

Mr Turnbull's statement was read out by Daniel Morcombe Foundation Patron Kay McGrath to a crowd of hundreds of people at Sunshine Coast Christian College for the start of the annual day to mark the disappearance of Daniel in 2003.

The Woombye crowd was just a sample of what Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said was a record turnout, with 1100 schools across Queensland and about 400 businesses taking part in the Day for Daniel.

"And you're playing your part too, getting the message out that child safety is a whole of community concern," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said the government would continue working with the Morcombes to improve child safety.

"The result of this collaboration has been a child safety curriculum that is now running in our state schools," she said.

"Child safety has to be our number one priority.

Queensland premier speaks at Day for Daniel on the Sunshine Coast:
Annastacia Palaszczuk highlights the importance of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation's child safety work.

INITIAL REPORT: CROWDS are gathering at Palmwoods for the eleventh annual Walk for Daniel.

The Geppert family try to take part in the walk every year.

"We do it for Daniel and to keep our kids safe," William Geppert said.

Nambour's Bella Gowlett and Lacey Smith were just kids when Daniel went missing.

They remember feeling scared that something of that nature could happen so close to their home and they come to the walk now to show their support for the cause.

The entire nation mourned with the Morcombes Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said in a message to the walk for Daniel.

The message was read out by Day for Daniel patron Kay McGrath as hundreds of people gathered for the walk.

The 2015 Walk for Daniel gets underway at Palmwoods:
It's the 11th annual walk run by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

Denise Morcombe said the child safety work of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation was reaching a huge audience.

1100 Queensland schools and about 900 interstate schools are participating in this year's Day for Daniel, and a record number of businesses are supporting the events.

"From our family we would like to say thank you so much for participating today, thank you for supporting the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, and thank you for never forgetting Daniel," Denise said.